Drought resistant summer flowering garden plants are needed in greater number to support pollinators, says the RHS, as it publishes its updated Plants for Pollinators list.
Warm, dry weather has been a boon for pollinators but a lack of rain this year has meant that many summer flowering favourites such as oxeye daisy, rudbeckia and phlox have reached only roughly half their average size with a reduced number of blooms or else blooms which have rapidly ‘gone over’ in the heat.
This has impacted on plants’ provision of nectar meaning a broad spectrum of flowers that thrive in dry conditions has never been more important.
Alongside drought tolerant favourites salvia and lavender, the charity is also recommending sea holly, euphorbia, helianthus and marjoram that a comprehensive review of its Plants for Pollinators now includes in greater number.
Plants for Pollinators, which first launched in 2011, highlights plants that gardeners can grow to support the UK’s 6,000 pollinating insects. The 2025 updated list now includes nearly 10,000 plants which equates to roughly 15% of all plants available to buy in the UK. This includes 19 recently elevated to genus level – a grouping of closely related species of plant. Those plants include Eryngium (sea holly), Origanum (marjoram), Lavandula (lavender), Prunus (cherry/laurel), Euphorbia (spurge) and Campanula (bellflower).
While Plants for Pollinators has expanded, 14 plants have been removed from the list as a result of a new methodology that incorporates literature reviews and working group observations. Those removed include spider flower (Cleome hassleriana), cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), Cupid’s dart (Catananche caerulea) and sweet sultan (Amberboa moschata). These all still provide sought after summer colour but alternatives that will marry colour and carry the pollinator-friendly logo include hollyhock (Alcea rosea), cornflowers (Centaurea spp), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and single-flowered forms of China aster (Callistephus chinensis).
Andrew Salisbury, entomologist and Head of Plant Health at the RHS, said: “Indications are that the warm and dry conditions in the first half of the year have been good for pollinators. But should rainfall remain low as we head into late summer then plants’ growth potential and provision of nectar will continue to be impacted by the lack of water so gardeners should look to drought resistant favourites to outlast these periods and future proof their gardens.
“Using our updated pollinator list to determine which are best for the conditions in your garden and on a local level is so important if we’re to help reverse the decline in UK pollinator numbers. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the likes of marjoram and sea holly becoming more popular with gardeners owing to their structure, resilience and pollinator appeal.”
The review of the RHS’ Plants for Pollinators list forms part of its Plants for Purpose project that will recommend plants suitable in responding to local geography and climactic and environmental conditions such as flooding and drought and pollution.
The RHS Plants for Pollinators list is intended to help tackle the decline in pollinators and lists those with flowers attractive to a wide range of pollinators including butterflies, hoverflies, wasps, moths and bees; single blooms with pollen and nectar. The list is divided according to cultivated garden plants and wildflowers. Each plant on the list has to be suitable for gardens and have a high level of nectar, pollen and/or oils, or serve as an important pollinator resource in autumn and winter, bloom prolifically or attract more than one insect group. The new methodology combining literature reviews and observations will be used to assess any potential new additions to the list.
The list of plants that feature on Plants for Pollinators is searchable on the RHS website and denoted in garden centres across the country by those bearing the logo.
Of those plants RHS Grow app users said were in their gardens the most popular on the Plants for Pollinators list are:
1. Salvia
2. Geranium
3. Allium
4. Lavendar
5. Prunus
6. Hellebore
7. Euphorbia
8. Verbena
9. Hebe
10. Campanula
